At the end of June Taiwan’s Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) stated that business cyclical indicators displayed signs of a slowdown of the economy. The Executive Yuan reportedly has now asked the CEPD to draft regulations concerning the construction of casinos on Taiwan’s outlying islands to boost tourism and create employment. However, environmentalists are opposing the plan, claiming that the white sands, clear waters and ecological richness of Penghu are its natural assets and gambling business is not needed.

Although thought to be widely welcomed by local government and local residents, plans for a casino industry have been criticised by some. Calls have been made for public debates to be held to discuss the issue with a referendum to follow. There is also concern over the effect of gambling on the youth of Taiwan. An opposition legislator has pointed to the fact that in Macau many university students have dropped out of education to take up dealing in casinos.

A professor at National Dong Hwa University has said that Taiwan is not a convenient location and unlikely to attract the lucrative mainland Chinese market that is the mainstay of the Macau gambling industry. However, the CEPD has said that an assessment report on the proposed gaming industry on offshore islands located 50km from Taiwan’s coast will be completed by the end of the year. (E-07.17.08)

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